What exactly is a ball float anyhow?

The ball float method is a direct reading liquid level mechanism.  The most practical design for the ball float is a hollow metal ball or sphere.  However, there are no restrictions to the size, shape or material used.  The operation of the ball float is simple; the ball floats sit on top of the liquid in a tank or well.  If the liquid level changes, the float will follow with the liquid level change.  The downside with using ball floats is they also can get tangled up or weighed down with grease or foam or when grease hardens the float may sit on top of the hardened grease thus creating a false reading.  You also have to take into account that there may be some costly maintenance involve with using a ball float system.

On the other hand, the probe or sometimes referred to as a “stick” is considered a primary level sensing device in any municipal or industrial application. It works by using the conductive properties of the water.

All you do is, hang the probe on its own cable into your wet well, using brackets we supply.  It has no electronics and no moving parts, which means there is nothing to that gets tangled, break or fail.  It’s mounted near the inflow (which we highly recommend doing), allowing the turbulence to keep it clean, so there is virtually very little maintenance required.  Even if a build-up does occur it has a squeegy you just pull it through “simple as pie,” it’s usually conductive and keeps right on working.  That’s why it has a 10 year warranty!

Request a trial today: http://www.multitrode.com/landing/reliable-liquid-level-sensor

How Does the Probe Work?
The Probe works by using the conductive properties of the water itself to complete a circuit with a controller. It’s mounted near the inflow, allowing the turbulence to keep it clean. Even if a build-up does occur it’s usually conductive (in wastewater) and so the Probe keeps right on working. When cleaning is required, the probe is installed off a mounting bracket that includes a cleaning device.

Why is it so reliable?
Ultra-reliable! No electronics and no moving parts means there is nothing to fail. That’s why it has a 10-year warranty! No other liquid level sensor comes close.

Why is it easier to install than other level devices?
All you do is hanging the Probe on its own cable into your wet well, using the bracket we supply. Installation is simple – any one of your technicians could do it in an hour or so. What’s more, you install the Probe relatively low down in the wet well. Compared to ball floats, it allows the well to be cleaned out more thoroughly. That means less debris build-up, odors and pump clogs.

Key Features

• Virtually no maintenance required
• Simple installation from outside the sump
• Easy visibility of start and stop points
• Unaffected by fat, oil, grease, debris and foam
• Excellent in turbulent sumps
• Safe, low sensing voltage
• Comes in a variety of lengths with 10-sensors, 3-sensors or single sensor.
• Custom sizes also available. 

Texas Water 2010
American Bank Center
1901 N. Shoreline Boulevard
Corpus Christi, TX  78403
4/13/2010 – 4/16/2010
Booth #818

Design-Build for Water and Wastewater
Gaylord Texan Resort & Convention Center
1501 Gaylord Trail
Grapevine, TX  76051
4/19/2010 – 4/23/2010
Booth #208

APWA /OWEA Show
Renaissance Tulsa Hotel & Convention Center
6808 S. 107th East Avenue
Tulsa, OK
4/19/2010 – 4/21/2010
Attending with Automatic Engineering

79th Annual Conference, Short School, and Expo
Hot Springs Convention Center
400 Convention Boulevard
Hot Springs, AR 71901
4/30/2010 – 5/5/2010
Attending with ISI

Please stop by our booths. There you can find out more about MultiTrode Products.

Featuring:

• MultiSmart – The world’s first Pump Station Manager
• The Probe – The most reliable and cost effective liquid level sensor
• SafeSmart Backup Controllers – A complete backup solution

Our recent experience in the City of Zephyrhills (Florida) is a case on point. They needed a simple method of detecting water levels to avoid repeated stormwater flooding, and we were up for the challenge.

Case Study – City of Zephyrhills
Stormwater Pump Controls

Zephyrhills is located in Pasco County, on a ridge that divides the Hillsborough River Basin from the Withlacoochee River Basin. Lake Zephyr, an integral part of the City’s stormwater drainage system, eventually flows south to the Hillsborough River. Although most of the City is drained by surface swales, their structural drainage system includes 2 retention ponds with pumps, emergency generators and force mains. The larger pond is East off US 301 and North of 6 Avenue. The smaller pond is West of 1 Street and South of 14 Avenue. Both ponds are almost completely utilized.

The Challenge
The larger stormwater pond acts as a reservoir, temporarily collecting surface water run-off from surrounding streets. Two large pumps transfer the water to Lake Zephyr, located approximately two miles from the collection area. Last year, level switches controlling the two 40 horsepower pumps failed and the water level rose high enough to cause flooding in surrounding streets and a fire station.

Click here to read more…

Current class offerings include:

• Latest Advances in Pump Station Management
• Introduction to the MultiSmart: the World’s 1st Pump Station Manager
• Introduction to Backup Controllers for Lift Stations
• Customized classes also available

Hurry – Space is filling fast!

To take advantage of this extraordinary opportunity, contact Sandy Santiago at 561-994-8090 or sandys@multitrode.com.

After making your reservation, you will receive an email Webinar Invitation with simply to follow instructions. Then sit back in the comfort of your own office while the MultiTrode Team entertain you with tales of technological advancements and features that will make every day in the field seem like a walk in the park!

Inflow and Infiltration (I&I) are terms used to describe the ways that groundwater and stormwater enter a sanitary sewer system.

• Inflow is storm and surface water that enters the sewer system at points of direct connection. These include footing/foundation drains, roof drains/leaders, downspouts, drains from window wells, outdoor basement stairwells, drains from driveways and groundwater/basement sump pumps. Ideally, inflow water should enter the stormwater system or be absorbed into the ground.
• Infiltration is rain and ground water that enters into the sewer system through cracks in sewer pipes, joints or manholes. These leaks may be caused by age-related deterioration, loose joints, poor design, root damage or maintenance issues. Sewer pipes are designed to last about 20-50 years. Often, sewer system pipes go much longer without maintenance and are likely to be damaged.

Flow Monitoring

Flow Monitoring equipment is used to determine if there is excessive I&I. Many types of flow monitoring instruments are available and pricing varies. To measure wastewater flows throughout the sewer system, it is important to select the appropriate Flow Meter.

A probe measures water velocity and depth. Long-term flow calculations can be made using simple water level recorders. More sophisticated flow meters can output, display and record flow information directly, but they represent a larger investment.

Benefits of Low Infiltration & Inflow 

• Efficient operation of wastewater treatment facilities
• Lower overall capital and operation costs
• Fewer/smaller expansions of hydraulically-sized system components (i.e. sewer lines, pumping stations, etc.)
• Decrease in the energy required to operate pumps
• Increased Compliance/Elimination of Violations with EPA requirements

Much of the country’s infrastructure was built in the 30 years after World War II. Although age is a key indicator of a system’s health, equally important is the way the system has been maintained. A well-maintained system can operate effectively for a significant period of time.

All products have a life cycle – the clothes you wear, the desk you’re working on, the chair you’re sitting in – everything. The same is true for the nation’s infrastructure, and each of its components:

Components & Life Cycles

Collections: 80-100 Years

Treatment Plants (Concrete Structure): 50 Years

Treatment Plant Mechanical/Electrical Equipment: 15-20 Years

Force Mains: 25 Years

Pump Stations (Concrete Structure): 50 Years

Pump Stations (Mechanical/Electrical Equipment): 15 Years

Interceptors: 90-100 Years

What is the state of the Union?

Among the many challenges facing our water and wastewater systems are:

• Large Capital Investment
• Aging Workforce
• Lack of New Skilled Workers Entering the Marketplace
• Increased Regulation
• Disengaged Public
• Interdependence on the Energy Sector

Estimates of national investment needs range from $300 Billion to $2 Trillion over the next 20 years.

Today’s population is benefiting from the investments made by past generations. Looking forward, the EPA is promoting practices that encourage utilities to address existing needs so that future generations will not be left to rebuild a crumbling infrastructure. This is referred to as “Sustainable Infrastructure”.

The Four Pillars of Sustainable Infrastructure are better management, efficient water use, full-cost pricing of water and a watershed approach to protection. The EPA believes this will help utilities to operate more sustainably now and in the future.

MultiTrode Can Help!

Our technologically advanced products have been developed with system efficiency and easy interface in mind. With the push of a button, our smart pump controllers will help you:

• Promote effective utility management
• Minimize operations cost
• Facilitate effective asset management
• Improve maintenance and capital investment planning
• Reduce energy cost & CO2 emissions
• Increase system-wide efficiency

Learn more about the innovative Level Sensing Probe and intuitive MultiSmart Pump Station Manager.

Drawings of new pits come through my desk nearly every month and most have the MultiTrode Level Sensing Probe already specified, but from time to time I see a ball float right at the top to indicate high level and an alarm. The following figures show the backup level sensing configuration with a ball float and how that configuration matches with the backup Fail Safe Probe sensor design.
 

Proposed Tank Level With Ball Float

Proposed Tank Level With Fail Safe

It seems no one ever thought of changing the ball float to a new and more advanced Fail Safe Probe and install the Fail Safe Relay as well. Ball floats have their place; but when mission critical high level flow’s need a mission critical alarm, a Fail Safe Probe is the best bet together with a Fail Safe Relay.

Those who are familiar with the probe would know that the 200mm single sensor probe has just one wire, but the Fail Safe has two. The Fail Safe Controller will “integrate the loop” to check for continuity of the circuit; and if there is a break in the cable it will close a relay that will warn that, the integrity of the probe to do its job has been limited or has failed. Handy if you have a sewerage pumping station near a creek or river where people swim a lot.